Hull for submarine vessels.



R. S. NOAH.

HUL"L FOR SUBMARINE VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 13. I916.

Patented May 7,- 1918.

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R. S. NOAH.

HULL FOR SUBMARINE VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED 050.13, 1916- Patented May 7,1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. S. NOAH. HULL FOR SUBMARINE VESSELS.

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7 a a6 l6 26 gn um'vilO z RWY'A W/Z APPLICATION FILED DEC.13 1916- 6%965 Patented May 7,1918.

T ere new ROBERT S. NOAH, OF ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY B. BEINHARD'I', TRUSTEE, OF ROLAND PARK, MARYLAND.

Application filed December 13, 1916.

To all 2071/0772 it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT S. NOAH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Annapolis, in the county of Anne Arundel and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hulls for Submarine Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in sea-going vessels of the submersible or submarine type, and particularly has reference to improving the shape and construction of the hull of such vessels with a view to increasing the speed, eiiiciency and control of the vessel while moving in the sea.

The several objects to be attained and the advantages to be secured by the improvements shown in the drawings hereto annexed, will be described in the following specification.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Figure l, is a side elevation of a submarine vessel. The broken line 8.8. near the top, and extending horizontally, indicates the position on the hull of the surface of the sea-water when the vessel is afloat at or near the waters surface.

Fig. 2, is atop plan of the vessel.

Fig. 3, shows a stern view, and

Fig. 4:, is a cross-section of the hull of the vessel on the line 14: of Fig. 2, and shows the interior.

Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical section views taken longitudinally of the vessel. These two views comprise the bow and stern parts and are to be read together-Fig. 5 showing the bow end, and Fig. 6 the stern end.

F ig. 7, is a vertical crosssection of the hull on the line 77 of Fig. 2 and shows that the continuity of the air-chamber extending lengthwise of the highest part of the hull is not interrupted by the gunturret.

Fig. 8, is a vertical cross-section of the hull on the line 88 of Fig. 2 through a hatchway.

Referring now to the drawings by designating numerals, the numeral, 9, designates the improved shell or hull structure of the submarine vessel. Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6 show longitudinal views of the hull and Figs. 8, 1, 7 and 8 being cross-sections show the beam or greatest diameter and also the Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented liliay "F, 191%..

Serial No. 136,790.

shape of the hull, which in general is that of an ellipse except the central part of the top is raised, the broadest part when the vessel is in the water takes the horizontal position. The rounded bottom, 10, of the ellipse has a center keel, 11, and two docking keels, 12, one being at each side of the center. The two side keels, 12, serve when the vessel is in the water to prevent or hinder a rolling motion of the vessel, and as exterior stringers extending lengthwise of the bottom these side keels also serve to rest on the stanchions or stools of a drydock and thereby sustain the vessel without its injury while being painted or undergoing repairs.

These three keels, extend longitudinally of the vessel and are the only projections on the exterior of the hull; thus the outside surface of the hull carries nothing projecting to cause friction when the vessel is moving forward through the water.

The central part of the top is the most elevated and constitutes a flat surfaced upper deck, 13, extending longitudinally of the vessel from a point near the bow to a point near the stern. Said upper deck, 13, is narrow relatively to the width of the hull, and serves as a foot-board and also as the permanent cover to a sealed dead-air chamber, 14, formed within the hull by a false ceiling, 15, to the compartment, 21, said ceiling being spaced. below said upper deck, 13. This tight or sealed dead-air chamber is continuous'from end to end notwithstand ing the fact that gun turrets, 28, towers, 29, and hatchways, 30, open through it. The top of the hull at each of the two sides of the central elevated upper deck, 13, has a roof-section commencing at said deck and forming a depressed curve and inclining downwardly and its lower edge 26, connecting with the said rounded bottom, 10.

It will be seen that when the vessel is afloat at or near the seawater surface, as. only said upper deck 13, and the shallow part that incloses the sealed air-chamber will be exposed to view at or above the surface of the sea. This air-chamber at the top of the hull and extending the entire length thereof serves to maintain, or assists in maintaining, the equilibrium and balance of the hull, and tends to-keep the same level.

As the cross-section of the hull has substantially the shape of an ellipse, there is at each longitudinal exterior side of the hull a V-shaped buffer edge, 26, from which springs the downward rounded bottom, 10 of the hull and the upward rounded top, 27, which shape, first, facilitates the guidance of the vessel in the water, and second, serves as a buffer protection to the vessel from exterior objects and also as a protection against explosive shells, because, should a shell strike the inclined exterior of either the hulls bottom or top, such shell would [probably be deflected.

The interior of the hull has two parallel vertical bulkheads, 16, whose bottom and top, respectively, intersect and connect with the interior of the rounded bottom, 10, of the hull and the interior of the curved top, 17, of the hull.

Each of said two longitudinal bulk-heads forms within the hull a side water-space, 18, whose shape is triangular in cross-section, as seen in Figs. 4., 7 and 8. These two internal spaces, 18, have inlet openings, 19, from the outside shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to admit sea-water when it is desired to cause the vessel to submerge.

The two longitudinal bulkheads, 16, besides serving to strengthen the hull also form side-walls for all the central compartments,

20, 21, the lower-compartments being separated from the upper by a deck floor, 22. These compartments may be used for the various purposes of storing ballast, shell barrels or tanks containing oil, and supplies, also for engine room and quarters for the crew.

Below the floor, 23, of the lower compartments, 20, are cross-ribs, 24, which strengthen the hull-bottom, 10; and said cross-ribs have openings or holes, 25, see Fig. a, that permit the slow passage of bilge water.

This vessel may have a gun-turret whose position is indicated at 28, one or two conning towers, 29, and one or more covered hatches, 30.

A submarine vessel having a hull of the shape and design here shown and described, would be adapted for high speed, for quick response to the rudder when changing the direction of movement for the maintenance of equilibrium and steadiness in:the sea,

Copies at this patent may be obtained for and for deflecting a shell in case one should strike the hull above or below the buffer edge, 26.

Such a vessel would be driven by suitable propellers, 31, and any number may be used, and they may be positioned on the hull as the constructor deems preferable.

A rudder, 32, of any preferred construction' may be employed to guide the vessel.

The hatehways open through the upper deck, 13, and also through the false-ceiling 15, below said deck, and a well-wall, 33, of any preferred shape, say rectangular or cylindric, is fitted water-tight within said deck-opening and false-ceiling, as shown in Fig. 8. The well-wall has at its top an expanding flange, 34, on which is seated a ring-shaped packing 35, and the hatchway cover 30, has a down-flange, 36, that fits within the well-wall, and also has a lateral. flange that seats on top of the said ringshaped packing and constitutes a watertight hatch. As the wellwall, 33, has a diameter less than the width of the seated air-chamber 14:, an air-passage, 37, is formed at one or both sides of the well-wall, see Fig. 8, and this passage, 37, makes the air-chain ber continuous from end to end of the vessel.

Having described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is A submarine vessel whose hull is provided at each of two longitudinal sides with a straight buffer-edge extending for the greater part of the hulls length; an uppermost deck which is the highest part of the vessel and extends longitudinally and parrallel with said bufler edges,said deck being narrow relatively to the width of the hull between said two side buffer-edges, and two longitudinal roof-sections each having a depressed crosswise curve and each section adjoining an opposite side of. said uppermost deck and therefrom inclining downwardly to one of said buffer-edges.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT S. NOAH.

five cents each. by addressing the "Commissioner of latents.

Washington, D. C. Y 

